Page 103 of Invisible Bars
Naji wasn’t just sexy, she was fragile, unpredictable, and way too damn soft in a world that ate girls like her alive. I knew what she’d been through and what she was still trying to process; that’s what made it worse. My need for her wasn’t just physical… it was becoming emotional. I wasn’t used to craving people. Bodies? Sure. I’d had my share. But that… that was different. I wanted to hear her sounds and stories. I loved the way she looked at me like she didn’t fully trust me—but hoped she could.
I ran a hand down my chest, stopping just below my navel. My abs tightened.
“Nah,” I muttered, turning on my side like it would help.
It didn’t.
My hand moved again—that time lower—but I stopped myself.
“Nigga, get yo’ ass up!” I grumbled to myself.
I sat up, sheets falling away, revealing the exact problem I was trying to ignore-a hard dick. My muscles were tense. My teeth clenched, and my mind was on doing some nasty shit to Naji.
I needed a cold shower, because if Naji walked past me again with those short ass shorts or an attitude like she was begging me to fuck her, that lil’ marriage of ours was about to getrealin a different way.
Chapter Fifteen
NAJI
The house was quiet… too quiet for someone who used to live in runways and flashbulbs, but perfect for someone who spent the last few years hiding from all of that.
I peeked out of my room, tiptoeing like I was in some low-budget spy movie.
No voices. No clanging in the kitchen. No Imanio.
The second I realized the coast was clear, I bolted back to the room and threw everything I could into my duffel—clothes, portfolio, and, of course, Nana Li’s bear. I was leaving that house—one way or another that day. I didn’t care if I had to roll down the hill in a trash can or flag down an Amazon truck.
We had been married for almost two weeks by then, and I was done playing house in a place that felt like a velvet-lined prison. Part of me didn’t believe Imanio was wise enough to leave me alone—the man didn’t even leave his bourbon unattended. But neither he nor any of the staff were anywhere in sight, which was unusual. So either it was a trap, or Imanio he was starting to trust me. And if it was the latter…hisbad.
I made my way to the kitchen, stomach twisting. My fingers trembled as I reached for the landline. I couldn’t use my own phone because he still refused to turn it back on. The only personwho came to mind that I knew would probably cross an ocean to get me wasDaphnee.I dialed the number by memory. My chest clenched when she picked up on the first ring.
“Hello!” she answered, chipperly.
“Dap-Daphnee. It’s me… Naji.”
“Naji?! Sweetheart! My Lord, where have you been?! I’ve been calling, stopping by. I even went to your job! They said you took a vacation—one you never told me about! I saw that Blu Notes is permanently shut down. Just—out the blue!” she rattled off questions.
“Yeah… t-tragic,” I murmured, the memory of that night pressing against the back of my mind like a bruise.
“So where are you staying now?”
“I’m safe,” I replied cautiously. “But… it’s complicated.”
“Complicated how? And why are you whispering? Naji, are you sure you’re okay?”
Her voice cracked with worry, and mine almost cracked with tears.
“Can… can you come and pick me up?Jesus take the wheel and crash it into the bank!”
“Remind me to call my credit union and freeze my shit before I pick you up.”
Leave it to Daphnee to toss out a joke while I was mid-escape plan.
“Sorry… tic.”
“I know, sweetie. But of course I can come and get you? Where are you? Just send me the location and I’ll be on the way.”
I inhaled deeply. I had memorized the address the day I left to get married—burned it into my brain like escape insurance.
